Inside Pilaf's castle, tension filled the air.
Mai and Shu bowed deeply, voices trembling in unison.
"We're sorry, Lord Pilaf!"
"If only we'd counted properly before leaving!"
Pilaf leaned back on his throne, glancing at the Dragon Radar with an indifferent smirk.
"It doesn't matter anymore. The radar shows the last Dragon Ball heading straight toward us. Looks like our guests are already on their way."
"What?!"
"So fast?!"
Mai and Shu both leaned over the screen, eyes wide.
"It's true! Are they… flying again? Did they fix that golden cloud?"
Shu whistled.
"Not only that—they're coming right for us. That means they must have a radar too!"
Mai nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, no one could've gathered six Dragon Balls without one. Still, they're so cunning! They must've hidden the seventh one somewhere. That's why we couldn't finish the set!"
Pilaf threw his head back and burst into laughter.
"Fufufufu! No matter! Once they arrive, the seventh ball will be ours! And then… oh, the sweet loneliness of greatness!"
He stretched dramatically.
"At long last, I—Pilaf the Great—will rule the world! Wahahaha!"
Mai frowned, staring at the radar again.
"Um… Lord Pilaf, look. Their signal just changed direction."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Shu tilted his head.
"Maybe they saw how massive and intimidating our fortress is—and got scared?"
Pilaf's eyes gleamed.
"Ah, yes! That must be it! My overwhelming presence cannot be hidden! I frightened the prey before the hunt even began! How tragic—how magnificent!"
Mai sighed.
"So… what do we do now?"
Pilaf jabbed a finger toward them.
"You two! Take the battle mechs and chase them down. Bring me those Dragon Balls!"
"Yes, Lord Pilaf!"
The two scampered off toward the hangar bay.
High above, the Flying Nimbus floated in the cool evening air.
Bulma and Goku hovered not far from Pilaf's towering fortress.
Bulma frowned. "I didn't think it'd be this close. We caught up before we even realized it."
Goku turned to her. "So what now? Should we storm the place, or do you want me to blow it up with a Kamehameha?"
Bulma's heart nearly stopped. "What? No! If you blast the castle, we'll all die too!"
She looked around, eyes narrowing. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of gold and crimson. Soon, night would fall.
A pale moon was already rising, half-veiled by thin wisps of cloud.
Then it hit her.
The memory flooded back—different details, but the same outcome.
In her past life, during the search for the final Dragon Ball, they had been trapped inside Pilaf's castle. When all hope seemed lost, Goku had looked up, seen the full moon… and transformed into a Great Ape, destroying everything in a monstrous rage.
Only Puar's quick thinking—transforming into scissors and cutting off his tail—had saved them.
Bulma's stomach tightened. The full moon was coming out tonight, and Goku still had his tail.
She grabbed his arm.
"Goku, we shouldn't go near that place yet. It's dangerous. Let's back off for a bit."
Before he could question her, she steered the Nimbus away, flying fast in the opposite direction.
Goku blinked, puzzled.
"But Bulma, the last Dragon Ball is right there! Why are we leaving? You think I can't handle them?"
Bulma tore a strip from her sleeve.
"Let's play a game, okay?" she said, trying to sound cheerful.
Goku tilted his head. "A game?"
"Mm-hmm. Don't resist—just close your eyes and do what I say."
"Okay!"
Trusting her completely, Goku obediently let her tie the cloth over his eyes.
"What now?" he asked curiously.
Then realization struck.
A chill raced down his spine. The full moon—tonight!
Could Bulma know? Did Grandpa Son Gohan tell her his secret before they left Mount Paozu?
He tried to remember that day clearly. His grandpa had pulled Bulma aside before they departed, whispering to her privately for quite a while. Goku had thought it was just instructions to "take care of him." But now… maybe not.
He recalled fragments—moonlit nights when his grandfather had always insisted they stay indoors, the strange "storms" that destroyed their home, and his grandfather's tired smile the next morning.
Those weren't storms. It was him.
The memory clicked like lightning in his mind.
That night, when his tail had regrown—he must have transformed again, wrecking the mountain. His grandfather had covered it up, rebuilt everything, and never told him why.
Now, it all made sense. Grandpa must have warned Bulma about his transformation before they left together.
A wave of relief washed over Goku.
'So that's why she's been acting weird. She's protecting me.'
He took a deep breath, finally calm.
And that's when he felt it—something soft brushing against his lips.
Goku froze. His heightened senses picked up her scent instantly—warm, faintly sweet, undeniably Bulma's.
He jolted in surprise.
"B-Bulma! What are you doing?!"
Bulma's voice was light and teasing.
"Nothing big! I just remembered—when we fell from the Nimbus earlier, you saved my life. So… congratulations!"
She leaned close enough for him to hear her smile.
"You've earned yourself a kiss from a beautiful girl."